Elbit Under Contract For Brazilian AMX Jet Avionic Upgrades

Defense Daily, Nov 19, 2008

Israel's Elbit Systems [ESLT] said it was awarded a contract Monday worth up to $187 million by Brazil's Embraer for the supply of avionics for the Brazilian AMX jet upgrade project.

"We believe our selection reflects the satisfaction of our Brazilian customers from our past performance, including our long-standing successful collaboration with Embraer," Joseph Ackerman, Elbit's president and CEO, said.

The initial development and prototype phase of the contract is worth about $67 million. The entire contract, including the subsequent production phase, would reach about $187 million and is scheduled for completion in 2014.

Implementation of the production phase following completion of the development and prototype phase is subject to further approval.

Elbit was selected as the main subcontractor of Embraer, the prime contractor for the project and the manufacturer of the AMX jet, which is to be supplied to the Brazilian Air Force.

Elbit will be performing the project in cooperation with its wholly owned Brazilian subsidiary Aeroeletronica S.A. (AEL), located in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Under the project, Elbit and AEL will supply the central battle mission computer of the AMX, as well as display systems, the ammunition management system and additional systems.

Elbit's Elisra Electronic Systems subsidiary in Israel will supply the electronic warfare (EW) systems as a major subcontractor to AEL.

"Our ability to incorporate Elisra's EW systems in this upgrade project, testifies to the synergy within Elbit Systems portfolio, which enables us to provide our customers with a wide variety of innovative end-to-end solutions," Ackerman added.

[Copyright 2006 Access Intelligence, LLC. All rights reserved.]

TICKER(S): Elbit Systems [ESLT]: